Track and Field notebook: Glenbard East junior Keeli Dunaway soars to school triple jump record

Glenbard East junior Keeli Dunaway turned a bad day into a great track and field memory April 23.

Dunaway broke the girls triple jump school record twice in finishing with an effort of 37 feet-11 1/2 inches at the Rams Invite season opener. Dunaway first broke the record with 37-6 on her second of three attempts.

“I’ve been keeping track of (the record) since my freshman year. I’ve wanted it, literally, since day one,” Dunaway said.

“To be honest, there was some personal stuff going on that I was really upset about and so I think that kind of gave me a little bit extra fuel, fire to say. I was on three hours of sleep. I was not having a good day and so I really needed something good to happen for me and it did. I was just really zoned in.”

In indoor season last year Dunaway jumped 37-2 1/4, just shy of the previous 37-3 school record set by Lauren Fogarty in 2005. Days later the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 track season.

“I was really upset about that but waiting paid off. I beat it by 8 inches and hopefully I can get up to maybe 39 feet before the season ends,” Dunaway said.

ANOTHER LATE START: In September, sophomore Brooke Berger and freshmen Bria Bennis were part of York’s varsity girls cross country team that was forced into quarantine just before their season opener because of COVID-19 protocol.

Now for track and field, the pair were among a small training group that missed the first two meets also due to the pandemic.

“I was frustrated but I didn’t want to get too mad. I wanted to keep a positive mindset. and I knew there’s many more chances (to compete),” Berger said.

“Two weeks. It seemed kind of far away but then as the days went on, I thought, ‘I get to run with my teammates too,’ and all of a sudden then two days away. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

Debuting April 29 at Glenbard West, Berger won the 3,200-meter run in 11:08.90, just shy of the 11:07.39 state-qualifying standard. Bennis ran 11:16.50 in her first-ever 3,200.

After its cross country quarantine, York won the West Suburban Silver, regionals, sectionals and the Class 3A ShaZam Championships, the unofficial state meet.

“Ever since the outcome of our cross country season, we’ve been super motivated,” Bennis said. “(Another quarantine) was devastating news because we were really excited to compete again but, you know, it’s no one’s fault. It can happen to anyone. Our coach gave us the workouts and we just did them by ourselves.”

4 FOR 4: Glenbard West junior Kyrah Maas won her four events at the District 87 Invite April 30 at Glenbard North – the 100 (13.06), 200 (26.62) and as a member of the 800 relay (1:50.8) and 400 relay (52.21) – after running a 59.43 400 the previous day.

“(District 87) was kind of like a flashback to freshman year. That was kind of my go-to races and I always love to do the relays,” Maas said. “It was just really exciting to get to focus on my running because I’ve been doing some field events.”

On the opening leg of the 3,200 relay, Glenbard East senior Lauren Weber ran a lifetime-best 2:13.9 split and Glenbard West junior Audrey Allman 2:16.4. The Hilltoppers won in 10:03.30 en route to the team title.

REVAMPED INVITES: West Suburban Conference invitationals for both divisions began Wednesday with girls field competition at Glenbard West.

Downers Grove South senior Aamari Taylor won high jump with 5-3 -- the 3A state-qualifying mark and a personal best by 3 inches -- by clearing that and five previous heights on her first attempts, beginning with 3-11.

The boys compete Friday and Saturday at Glenbard West. A girls distance meet is Saturday night at Downers North.

Wheaton Warrenville South will co-host Naperville North’s annual Gus Scott Invite for boys and girls Friday at WW South and Saturday at Naperville North. The schools previously were host sites one day each for the Naperville/Wheaton Invitational April 24-25.

The Tigers, Benet and Wheaton Academy girls and boys and the Wheaton North girls are among 15 schools represented.